PolicyWISE's second cross-nation Policy Learning Roundtable: Wales

This full report follows the roundtable held in Cardiff in July 2024 to examine cross- nation policy learning and challenges over the last 25 years, and to look forward to improved comparative policy research and knowledge exchange.

Takeaways included:

•           Intergovernmental relations should emphasise collaboration and learning, rather than competition.

•           Inter-Parliamentary co-operation is essential for policy leaning and comparative analysis.

•           The need for multi-lateral learning, avoiding England as the dominant and recognising that some competition can be positive.

The event brought together senior policymakers, analysts, academics, think-tank colleagues, education leaders, inter-governmental officials, and economists – from across Wales, and beyond.

This was the second in a series of roundtables across the nations, the reports from our previous event in Edinburgh are here with events in Northern Ireland and England to follow through 2024 - 25. Our aims in hosting these series of roundtables are to help inform and improve how policy learning and development works across nations and administrations, how comparative policy research, data and researchers can contribute, and the use and development of cross-nation networks and communities.